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Energy Efficiency: Using the wood stove for cooking
– Half the world uses charcoal, biomass for daily cooking
By Rabindra Rooplall
The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has been building and demonstrating the use of energy-efficient wood stoves in seven hinterland communities around Guyana. The stoves were constructed using indigenous materials like mud/clay, dry grass, banana stems, and water.
To date, over 500 households have benefited from this exercise through participation in the stove-building exercise where a total of dozens of stoves were constructed for demonstration. The Agency plans to continue this exercise by extending similar projects and initiatives to communities that are still heavily reliant on fire wood and other types of biomass to meet their daily cooking needs.
Communities that have benefitted from using wood stoves include: Powaikoru and Kanuballi (Region 1), Kangaruma and Kako (Region 7), Tuseneng (Region 8), and Rupertee and Shulinab (Region 9).
One of the many ways to construct a wood stove from mud/clay, dry grass, banana stems, and water.
According to the GEA, an energy-efficient wood stove is a device that is designed to consume less fuel (wood) and save cooking time. It also aids in reducing the volume of particulates and smoke produced during cooking in comparison to the traditional open-flame wood stove (‘fire side’).
According to the article ‘Wood based Biomass Energy Development for Sub-Saharan Africa: Issues and Approaches’, written by the World Bank and Africa Renewable Energy Access Program (AFREA), over half the world’s population currently relies on wood, charcoal or other biomass for daily cooking. Firewood and other biomass fuels that are used in open fires, or poorly functioning stoves, produce an overwhelming amount of soot and smoke. Over time, this can lead to respiratory diseases and environmental issues as a result of smoke inhalation.
A wood stove designed to be energy-efficient saves fuel and in so doing, saves money. Additionally, it helps to protect the users’ and their families’ health. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency in an article titled ‘Energy Efficiency and Wood Burning Stoves’ (March 29, 2013), wood smoke has been linked to cancer, asthma, and other serious health conditions. The traditional stove or open fire (‘fire side’) burns wood inefficiently resulting in wastage of firewood, air pollution, and the creation of dust inside the home.
Energy-efficient wood stoves aid in reducing indoor and outdoor pollution, lend positively to the environment, save energy, money, and help to safeguard personal health.
Other energy efficient stoves can be made using essential fuel saving tips such as using dry wood, pre-soaking beans before cooking, using a weighted lid, and controlling the air supply to the fire. These are ways to use the energy-efficient wood stove.
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